Student Research

Sustainable Concrete Mix Design: Experimental Study of Life-Size Columns

ABSTRACT

Concrete is the most used material in the construction industry due to its strength, durability, and versatility. With material scarcity, landfill saturation, and concrete production being responsible for 8% of the global CO2 emissions, researchers shifted their goal towards creating greener concrete by reducing emissions and reusing materials. Sustainable Concrete involves the partial substitution of concrete mixture components for an eco-friendly design and outcome.

This study focused on assessing life-size isolated footings by replacing 10% of the cement, sand, and gravel with wood ash, fine glass, and recycled concrete aggregates, respectively. This study addresses the use of a unique 3-part substation made from those materials, as well as the life-sizing of Sustainable mixes, which is not highlighted in previous research. 

Columns were built as Isolated footings and subjected to axial loading and lateral displacement simulating a real-life scenario, and compared to standard concrete samples. Results showed a 10% decrease in compressive strength but a similar performance between Virgin and Sustainable mix when comparing Lateral Load over Lateral Displacement. This paper focuses solely on the experimental aspect of this study, while further research will follow to validate the results numerically and explore other properties for comparison. Future opportunities and research topics will emerge from this study, as it opens doors to experimental data validation and the possibility of achieving ACI-approved standard procedures for sustainable mix designs.

kEYWORDS

Recycled Concrete Aggregates, Fine Glass, Wood Ash, Sustainable Concrete, Columns, Axial Load, Lateral Load.

Project Details